Crowded schools' fun ban: No ball games or running for students in booming primary schools

THE fun police have struck again, this time banning ball games and running at a number of schools around Sydney.

The bans, all at schools on the lower north shore, are a response to schools battling space shortages as student numbers boom, the Mosman Daily reports.

The ban follows the controversial move by Drummoyne Public School in August to ban handstands, cartwheels and somersaults in the playground during lunch and recess unless ``under the supervision of a trained gymnastics teacher and with correct equipment".

Parents say overcrowded public schools on Sydney's north shore are being forced to give up play space to demountables to cope with growing student numbers.

Northern Sydney Regional Council of Parents and Citizens Association executive member Steph Croft said cramped playgrounds had led to an increase in playground injuries and, as a result, the new ban.

Ms Croft said there had been an explosion in student numbers on the north shore in the past six years - Neutral Bay Public School has had a 36 per cent increase in enrolments while North Sydney Demonstration School has been forced to accommodate an extra 170 students.

As student numbers continue to grow - the association expects enrolments to grow 8 per cent in the next five years - concerns escalate about whether schools will be able to meet demand.

"Ten schools have no more room for demountables, four schools are holding classes in the library and two can't fit any more students," Ms Croft said.

A Department of Education and Communities spokesman said of the Drummoyne Public School ban in August school playground rules were set at school level, based on Work Health and Safety considerations, the terrain and layout of the school and the level of supervision.

A community forum on overcrowding in north shore schools will be held at Willoughby Girls High School on November 26 at 7pm.

It aims to bring together school groups, councils, MPs and education minister Adrian Piccoli.